'Nobiz' works with Derby winner

Kentucky Derby (G1) hopeful NOBIZ LIKE SHOBIZ (Albert the Great) worked

stride-for-stride with 2003 Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1) winner

FUNNY CIDE (Distorted Humor) on Monday at Gulfstream Park. The pair went five

furlongs on a fast track in a bullet :59 4/5, the co-fastest of 18 works at the

distance. Observers clocked both galloping out six furlongs in 1:13 and seven

furlongs in 1:27.

Trainer Barclay Tagg sent out his star three-year-old with his Derby winner

for a similar workout last week. The veteran conditioner is trying to rid Nobiz

Like Shobiz of his habit of lugging in during his races, a tendency that may

have cost him a higher placing than his third in the March 3 Fountain of Youth

S. (G2).

"He doesn't do it in the morning," Tagg said. "He's been good. He hasn't done

anything like that when he works. The works for both of them were good this

morning."

Nobiz Like Shobiz is scheduled to make his next start in the $750,000 Wood

Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct on April 7. The bay colt will catch a flight to the

Big Apple two days before the nine-furlong race. Tagg joked about what he'll

learn of Nobiz Like

Shobiz's

maturity in the Wood and is stoic about what the colt will face should he make

it to the big dance in Louisville on the first Saturday in May.

"I don't think there will be much of a crowd at Aqueduct," Tagg said.

"Everything is a concern when you're trying to get to the Derby. I can't worry

about how big the crowd is or how he's going to act if we get him there. I can't

control it. It's just another thing you worry about in this business."

Tagg indicated Funny Cide is tentatively slated to make his seasonal debut in

an allowance race opening week on Polytrack at Keeneland, but he was unsure if

the popular gelding would be ready on time.